Google has unveiled a novel feature that streamlines the process of scheduling meetings directly from Gmail, utilising its Gemini AI.
The “Help me schedule” utility generates meeting times by analysing the context of your email conversation and your Google Calendar availability. This eliminates the time-consuming process of exchanging emails to determine a mutually opportune time.
Gemini AI tackles time-consuming scheduling
This feature is designed for one-on-one meetings and works by surfacing available time slots from your calendar.
Users click the “Help me schedule” button beneath the message box when composing an email. Gemini then suggests times that meet your schedule and tailors ideas to your message. If the email requests a “30-minute chat next week,” Gemini limits alternatives to half-hour periods that match participants’ calendars and deadlines, making the process more natural and context-aware.
After selecting or editing the suggested slots, the recipient is provided with the times in the email, allowing them to choose their preferred option. Upon confirmation, the event is immediately posted to both users’ Google Calendars, greatly simplifying the workflow.
Tighter Google Workspace integration boosts productivity
Unlike standalone scheduling apps, Google’s new tool is deeply integrated into Gmail and Google Calendar, offering a seamless AI-powered assistant experience. This update arrives amidst a broader push by Google to embed Gemini’s capabilities across Workspace, including Google Slides, Docs, and Home devices.
Global web and mobile integration targets professionals and teams that coordinate meetings. Users like the tool’s efficiency, especially when scheduling with contacts whose calendars are private or inaccessible, decreasing email exchanges and scheduling problems.
The functionality now only supports individual meetings and isn’t enabled for group scheduling, but it’s a big step towards more innovative calendar management in Google’s suite.
Google’s Gemini AI-powered scheduling gives users a practical way to reclaim time and reduce scheduling headaches in email workflows.